Commentary on the Verse “And lo, the After-home is the (real) life, if they but knew.” The gates and walls and area of that World and its water and pitchers and fruits and trees, all are living and speaking and hearing; and on that account Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, has said that the present world is a carcase and those who seek it are curs. If the next world had no life, the next world too would be a carcase: a carcase is so called because of its being dead, not because of its evil smell and its foulness.

آن جهان چون ذره ذره زنده‌اند ** نکته‌دانند و سخن گوینده‌اند

Since every atom of that World is living and able to understand discourse and eloquent,

در جهان مرده‌شان آرام نیست ** کین علف جز لایق انعام نیست

They (the prophets) have no rest in the dead world, for this (worldly) fodder is only fit for cattle.

هر که را گلشن بود بزم و وطن ** کی خورد او باده اندر گولخن

Whoever has the rose-garden to feast and dwell in, how should he drink wine in the bath-stove?

جای روح پاک علیین بود ** کرم باشد کش وطن سرگین بود

The abode of the pure spirit is ‘Illiyyín; ’tis the worm that has its home in dung.

بهر مخمور خدا جام طهور ** بهر این مرغان کور این آب شور 3595

The cup that purifies is for those intoxicated with God; this briny water is for these blind birds.

هر که عدل عمرش ننمود دست ** پیش او حجاج خونی عادلست

In the eyes of any one to whom the justice of ‘Umar has not displayed its power, the murderous Hajjáj is just.

دختران را لعبت مرده دهند ** که ز لعب زندگان بی‌آگهند

A dead (lifeless) doll is given to (young) girls, for they are ignorant of the play (dalliance) of living (men).

چون ندارند از فتوت زور و دست ** کودکان را تیغ چوبین بهترست

A wooden sword is better suited to children (young boys), since they have not the strength and power (that comes) from manhood.

کافران قانع بنقش انبیا ** که نگاریده‌ست اندر دیرها

Infidels are content with the figures of the prophets which are painted (and kept) in churches;

زان مهان ما را چو دور روشنیست ** هیچ‌مان پروای نقش سایه نیست 3600

(But) as we have (enjoy) a bright period (of inward illumination) from those moons, we have no care for a shadow-figure.

این یکی نقشش نشسته در جهان ** وآن دگر نقشش چو مه در آسمان

The one figure of him (the prophet) is seated in the (sublunary) world, while his other figure is in heaven, like the moon.

این دهانش نکته‌گویان با جلیس ** و آن دگر با حق به گفتار و انیس

This mouth of him is speaking on subtle points (of religion) to those sitting beside him, while the other (mouth) is (engaged) in discourse with God and intimate (with Him).

گوش ظاهر این سخن را ضبط کن ** گوش جانش جاذب اسرار کن

His outward ear is apprehending these (external) words, while his spiritual ear is drawing (into itself) the mysteries of (the Creative Word)Be.

چشم ظاهر ضابط حلیه‌ی بشر ** چشم سر حیران مازاغ البصر

His outward eye is apprehending human forms and features, while his inward eye is dazzled in (the glory of) the eye did not stray.

پای ظاهر در صف مسجد صواف ** پای معنی فوق گردون در طواف 3605

His outward feet stand evenly in the row (of worshippers) in the mosque, while his spiritual feet are (engaged) in circumambulation above the sky.

جزو جزوش را تو بشمر هم‌چنین ** این درون وقت و آن بیرون حین

Reckon up every member of him (and judge of it) in like fashion: this (bodily part) is within Time, while that (spiritual part) is beyond Time.

این که در وقتست باشد تا اجل ** وان دگر یار ابد قرن ازل

This which is in Time endures till death, while the other is the associate of everlastingness and the peer of eternity.

هست یک نامش ولی الدولتین ** هست یک نعتش امام القبلتین

One name of him is “owner of the two empires”; one description of him is “Imám of the two qiblas.”

خلوت و چله برو لازم نماند ** هیچ غیمی مر ورا غایم نماند

The religious seclusion and the forty days' fast are no longer incumbent on him: no cloud is overclouding him any more.

قرص خورشیدست خلوت‌خانه‌اش ** کی حجاب آرد شب بیگانه‌اش 3610

His solitary cell is (resplendent as) the sun's orb: how should alien night throw a veil over it?

علت و پرهیز شد بحران نماند ** کفر او ایمان شد و کفران نماند

Sickness and abstinence are gone, the crisis is past: his infidelity has become faith, and disbelief is no more.